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rebeccadiv's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I overall really enjoyed this book despite some critiques. I loved the characters and ugly cried a lot. I do feel some level of disappointment about the ending and at times the storyline seemed all over the place but I loved the characters so much that it ended up evening out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Animal death
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
cozyfantasyfaetay's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Medical content
erenreads12's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Personally, this book felt like a bit of a waste of a fantastic premise that should have been right up my alley. There were issues with pacing, bitty characterisation and the dialogue most of the time felt stilted and lacking in subtlety. Despite using a lot of words it really felt as though little was being said.
The middle section felt strong and more engaging, and for a time felt like a solid 3 star - however it seemed as though Klune didn't even realise the strongest points of his novel and didn't capitalise on the most moving components, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with a series of what should have been impactful events.
Although the story ended in what I feel was the best and most appropriate way, the execution here (and at pivotal moments throughout) felt rushed and lacked impact. A little frustrated and disappointed by this book.
The middle section felt strong and more engaging, and for a time felt like a solid 3 star - however it seemed as though Klune didn't even realise the strongest points of his novel and didn't capitalise on the most moving components, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with a series of what should have been impactful events.
Although the story ended in what I feel was the best and most appropriate way, the execution here (and at pivotal moments throughout) felt rushed and lacked impact. A little frustrated and disappointed by this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Death
basil_touche's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I have to admit, I probably had my expectations for this book set too high after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea. The premise of a tea shop being a waiting room between life & death was intriguing, and I was interested to see how Wallace would develop into a better person before vanishing from the mortal coil.
However, I think my main problem with this book is that Wallace's development doesn't feel earned. He changes his ways quite rapidly once he's in the tea shop and it's not really shown in enough depth for my liking. This in turn made his romance with ferryman Hugo just feel forced, I felt as though other characters or the narrative kept pointing out they had feelings for each other and I just didn't really care if they got together or not.
There was also some pacing issues as while the first few chapters were great at setting up the narrative, after they arrived at the tea shop not much happened and it became a slog up until 150 pages in, to which it picked up again for a few chapters before dipping again. I also don't like how some of the side characters were written (Desdemona and Harvey spring to mind) they felt rather one note and flat. Throughout the book I just kept wishing there was more things explored with the characters, sure they talk about grief in a personal way but it felt like they just kept repeating themselves after a point. It just felt too twee for my liking.
The ending really annoyed me too. I get it's nice to have second chances, but to bring back Wallace from the dead? I felt that it would have been more emotionally significant to have him pass but his time at the shop still changed everyone for the better. The idea of Wallace being a "special case", especially when his development felt rushed and undeserved didn't sit right with me and kinda underminds what I thought this story was trying to tell. I also really didn't like The Manager, instead of coming off as a god that's mysterious, he felt as though the narrative hadn't decided what his character was. I just found him annoying.
They were some aspects I did quite like, Nelson is my favourite character, love the idea of an old ghost who really doesn't care what other people think of him now but still cares deeply for his grandson and his friends. Cameron's story I thought was tragic and told in such an interesting way that it his exit from the narrative felt really satisfying. Also how when ghosts go through the door we're not shown what they see, only their reactions. Also Apollo the ghost dog, gotta love a ghost dog.
Again, maybe it's on me for setting my expectations to high for this. If you like Klune's other novels, you'll probably like this one. I'll still check out his other work, I just better tamper my expectations first.
However, I think my main problem with this book is that Wallace's development doesn't feel earned. He changes his ways quite rapidly once he's in the tea shop and it's not really shown in enough depth for my liking. This in turn made his romance with ferryman Hugo just feel forced, I felt as though other characters or the narrative kept pointing out they had feelings for each other and I just didn't really care if they got together or not.
There was also some pacing issues as while the first few chapters were great at setting up the narrative, after they arrived at the tea shop not much happened and it became a slog up until 150 pages in, to which it picked up again for a few chapters before dipping again. I also don't like how some of the side characters were written (Desdemona and Harvey spring to mind) they felt rather one note and flat. Throughout the book I just kept wishing there was more things explored with the characters, sure they talk about grief in a personal way but it felt like they just kept repeating themselves after a point. It just felt too twee for my liking.
They were some aspects I did quite like, Nelson is my favourite character, love the idea of an old ghost who really doesn't care what other people think of him now but still cares deeply for his grandson and his friends. Cameron's story I thought was tragic and told in such an interesting way that it his exit from the narrative felt really satisfying. Also how when ghosts go through the door we're not shown what they see, only their reactions. Also Apollo the ghost dog, gotta love a ghost dog.
Again, maybe it's on me for setting my expectations to high for this. If you like Klune's other novels, you'll probably like this one. I'll still check out his other work, I just better tamper my expectations first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident
bussmanbooks3000's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Cancer, Death, Child death, Blood, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
eva_ds's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Suicide attempt
soggywaffle's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my favorite book ever. I have no criticism whatsoever. I love them, I love the way it entrapped me in the story. I couldn’t put the book down. I’ve never felt this way towards a book. The found family trope, the soulmates type of love. I just cant. This book felt like a warm hug. I can also thank this book for my love of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Death
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Cancer, Body horror, Murder, Child death, Chronic illness, and Self harm
aecoralie's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this book felt like this moment at a funeral when you talk with your loved ones and keep the one who left a little longer at your side <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Child death, Suicide, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
sarah_shelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Once again a fantastic book by TJ Klune. His narrators and characters all have such vibrant personalities. As soon as I started I knew I was going to love Wallace as much as I hated him because yes he’s awful in the beginning, but he has such a distinctive voice as well. I was having such fun with the characters I completely forgot about the week-long deadline until it shows up near the end (minor spoiler, I guess?) So much of this book is Wallace learning and growing, making connections with Hugo and Nelson and Mei, and adapting to the day-to-day life of Charon’s Crossing. There isn’t much of a plot until the back end of the book and usually that drives me crazy. But I enjoyed this book so much I hardly noticed (though once I did, the tension, questions, and emotional turmoil from the plot kicking in made up for my ensuing apprehension.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Child death